Witch House Empty Lot - 197 E Pitman St
New Jerusalem’s oldest home once sat on this spot, until its demolition by workmen back in 1931. Known then as "the witch house," the decrepit place originally was the home of infamous New Jerusalem witch Hekeziah Massey. By that time, the witch house was so dilapidated from age, weathering, and lack of maintenance that it had to be destroyed. Workmen tearing the place down were shocked to discover a hidden crawlspace filled with numerous human skeletal remains. So disturbed was the landlord at this grim find that he had the local priest – a Father Iwanicki – bless the lot after the timber and debris had been hauled away. Upon the landowner’s death, the lot was willed to the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.
The Archdiocese still holds on to the land to this day. The lot is ill kept, surrounded by a tall wooden slat fence with many loose boards brought about by daring teenagers and others who want a look at the old piece of land and the crumbling foundation of the ancient house. The trees on the property have not been properly cared for either and are now hoary old things that seem to be more carved from rather than grown out of the earth. The whole places has an unsettling and eerie air about it, and most people go past it quickly, a few making sure to whistle or cross themselves as they do.
Some locals to French Hill swear in whispered tones that on certain nights they have spied the ghost of Hekeziah Massey standing on the sidewalk across the street from the lot staring at the property.
What few know is that this property is constantly watched and patrolled by various members of New Jerusalem's cat and dog community; forewarned is forearmed, after all.
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